Redbridge school pupils met some of their favourite authors at the borough’s Children’s Book Awards yesterday (Thursday).
Shortlisted writers including Barbara Mitchel, Sita Brahmachari, Cat Clarke and Kevin Brooks did readings, answered questions and signed copies of their books.
The event at Sir James Hawkey Hall in Woodford Green marked the end of the awards, which allowed children to vote for their favourite books and submit their own stories.
The voters were from 15 secondary schools, five primary schools and the Ilford reading group.
Sita Brahmachari’s Artichoke Hearts won the children’s category and Cat Clarke’s Entangled won the teenage prize.
Children also wrote their own stories and poetry for the competition.
Loxford School pupil Naomi Preston-Low won for poetry and Scarlett Milner-Stopps, from Wanstead High School, won for short stories.
The girls won a book token and fiction book.
The awards, run by Redbridge Council, aim to encourage children to read for pleasure, take an interest in “quality” literature and inspire independent reading.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here